Riyadh District Court resumed looking into terrorist cases here on Tuesday. During one of the trials, an accused person in the 29-member terrorist cell accused of financing terrorist activities, refused to respond to the judge who presided over the case in which 10 other accused members also appeared before the court. Although the judge tried several times to convince the accused to answer his questions, his attempts fell on deaf ears. The accused remained silent and refused to speak during the trial, which was attended by representatives of the Saudi Human Rights Commission and the media. At one point, the judge suggested he would request all media representatives and other people to step out of the court so the accused would feel free to talk but the accused continued to remain silent. Finally, the judge explained to the accused the legal procedures courts take in similar situations where the accused refuses to respond to charges. The trial was then adjourned and the accused did not explain the reason behind his silence. During the same trial, one of the accused told the judge, “The Prosecutor General doesn't have the right to publish the charges leveled at us in the media without conclusive evidence,” to which the judge responded by saying, “If the media publishes any false information, you have the right to file a complaint in the court. Justice will prevail in the end.” Earlier, the Riyadh District Court on Monday looked into the case of the 50-member terrorist cell in which accused members appeared before the court on charges of financing terrorist activities, murdering a security officer, possession of fire arms and ammunition and killing innocent people. The prosecutor-general demanded the court render death sentences and impose the maximum punishment for money laundering and weapons possession charges against them. After noting the list of charges against them, the four accused requested the court to appoint a lawyer for them. The Riyadh District Court also looked into the case of 15 persons accused of joining the Makkah-based “Al-Khalidiya Apartment” cell which consists of 88 members. The accused were charged with plotting to assassinate three senior statesmen and blow up 52 sites. __
